Paint for 123 Wheels - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 11-03-2004, 10:48 AM

I'm looking to repaint the wheels on my diesel wagon rig. I would like to use the same color as the original. The paint is pretty much worn off of mine. So I guess I'm going to have to sand them alittle to get the paint to stick.

Does anyone know where I buy new paint for them? Color, clear coat etc?

Thanks

#2 11-03-2004, 11:12 AM

Did a search and nothin really turned up....

#3 11-03-2004, 01:56 PM

I would very much like to see a color chip chart for early 123's myself.

I waited until my car was in the body shop for some touch up, and then asked them to also spray a couple of spare wheel covers I'd picked up for my 240.

Most body shops have a computer-based paint machine which can mix paint to match any color...OR you could just buy 1,235 of those little touch-up bottles.

unkl300d · #4 11-03-2004, 02:20 PM

Probably have to sand blast the old stuff off. You know that you can have those aluminum wheels polished to a high gloss. No paint needed.
Need one of those bins with polishing 'stones' rolling inside.

Paint-wise, go to a car paint store and ask them for proper paint and clear coat.
Price it out, it needs special care to get it right (dust free) .

So if it is too time consuming for DIY, buy a new set that looks good.

D

dieseldiehard · #5 11-03-2004, 06:30 PM

Have a set of alloys polished and you will be supporting Mother's for the rest of time you own them. Mother's Mag polish. Just add Elbow Grease!

I had a set of bundts painted by a body shop, then clearcoated. They still look like new after almost 2 years. 90% of the time I hated those polished alloys because they oxidized almost overnight!
If you decide to paint wheels yourself, I recommend Wurth German Alloy Silver paint, its identical to the factory paint.
Everytime I look for some they are out of stock

http://www.goodspeedmotoring.com/subcat.php?man_id=14

dieseldiehard · #6 11-03-2004, 06:48 PM

It appears there is another source that has made the same paint available and is not having stock level problems:
http://www.nacarcare.com/1z970330.html

#7 11-04-2004, 05:47 PM

I found this after searching for a while...I think this guy's got a good plan...

I agree with you on the polishing AL, not interested.

This guy uses Groit's paint, but I think the paint you recommend, Dieseldiehard is better, no?

Bundt Wheel Solution

dieseldiehard · #8 11-05-2004, 04:30 PM

I like Griot's Garage catalogs but I haven't bought anything from them (yet).
I do buy from Eastwood. http://www.eastwood.com
They don't show anything specific to Mercedes, they have several silver spray paints at $9.95 a can but I would think the shade might be slightly different than OE MB.
It looks like Eastwood caters mostly to American car stuff, restorations and so on, but they do make a rust encapsulant paint I've used on surface rust like in trunk beds and floorboards and it is an excellent product.
My body shop friend said he can gets silver paint like he used on my wheels from DuPont. It looks just like the original quality but it is sold in gallons. For just one set of wheels two spray cans should be enough. Don't forget to apply three (or more?) thin coats of clearcoat afterwards to seal it good and make it shine.
I love the looks of my painted wheels, one of the best investments I made on the appearance of the car.

dmorrison · #9 11-05-2004, 06:42 PM

DO NOT SANDBLAST THE BUNDT WHEELS

You need to use glass bead or walnut shell on them.
The sand will pit the alluminum and make the job look like crap. YOu need to use either glass bead or walnut shells. A soft medium to the alluminum is fine.

The post on how to do it is a good post. I have the Griots paint but have not gotten my lazy butt around to it.

Do a Google search on "sandblasting medium" and learn about the different hardness of the medium used and what material needs what medium.

dave

#10 11-06-2004, 05:17 PM

I wasn't planning on blasting, but a light very light sanding. The paint is mostly gone on mine leaving a polished AL. I don't think its a good surface to paint on. I do have a sand blaster from other car restorations, but I would have to go to a shop to bead blast.

Do you think light sand is too much? Should I just have then bead blasted?

dieseldiehard · #11 11-07-2004, 08:44 PM

Paint won't stick well to a polished surface. You could use lots of elbow grease and sandpaper, or find a autobody shop that is willing to blast it w/ walnut shells or glass beads.
Heres a pic of one a local shop painted for me. I believe they have a wheel hub set up to spin it while its blasted and painted.

willrev · #12 11-23-2004, 01:14 PM

Every local body shop has said the same thing. Sandblasting ruins aluminum. Beadblast with the glass beads. Mine are at a machine shop getting blasted right now. Then you must use and etching primer to the raw metal. The use the highest quality base coat paint. Glauserit was the original paint on most. and then clearcoat for durability. Unless you want to pay the big $$$ to have the powdercoated and baked in an oven. That's the absolute best.

Old300D · #13 11-23-2004, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willrev

Every local body shop has said the same thing. Sandblasting ruins aluminum. Beadblast with the glass beads. Mine are at a machine shop getting blasted right now. Then you must use and etching primer to the raw metal. The use the highest quality base coat paint. Glauserit was the original paint on most. and then clearcoat for durability. Unless you want to pay the big $$$ to have the powdercoated and baked in an oven. That's the absolute best.

I've heard some aluminum will outgas during the baking for powdercoat, leaving bubbles in the finish. A friend of mine had this problem with some factory Datsun (15x6 "snowflake") alloy wheels. Has anyone else heard or seen this? I don't doubt the MB wheel is higher quality, but I don't know if that is key or not.

d2bernhard · #14 12-03-2004, 06:52 PM

got mine powder coated last week. Bead blasted to bare metal. Gloss Black (though they have 1000 colors and textures). W124 '86 forged wheels. Cheaper than any paint shop wanted to charge. $200. Look Great.

phantoms · #15 12-04-2004, 11:09 PM

Any pictures?